Past Conferences

Click on the links at left for details of the 2008 and prior Conferences. A history of all prior conferences is presented below. 
 

HISTORY OF MID-STATES
CACTUS AND SUCCULENT PLANT
CONFERENCES

Chuck Staples, Mid-Iowa C&SS, & CSSA Historian
(As of June 22, 2008)

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(The following  “feeler” along with a questionnaire went out to the various affiliate societies in the mid states area in 1985 — from Skip and Retha Adkins of the Omaha Cactus and Succulent Society.  This became the beginning of the biennial mid states conferences — held during the even-numbered years between the national convention odd-numbered years.)

CACTUS PEOPLE STICK TOGETHER
1^st ANNUAL CACTI SOCIAL
ALOE - HAWORTHIA YOU FEEL ABOUT A PICNIC?
EUPHORBIA IT?

Would members of your club be willing to attend a pot-luck picnic on a late Saturday afternoon in June or July of ’86 for the mid states cactus and succulent society affiliates (Nebraska, Iowa, North/South Dakota, Minnesota, Wisconsin, Illinois, Missouri, Kansas, Colorado, Oklahoma, and Arkansas)?  It seems to us that our problems are different, shopping places limited, and the need to meet and know one another is great.  …………………

Our goal is to keep it as inexpensive as possible for everyone — meet you — and have a lot of fun.

(Membership in one of the affiliate societies in the states listed above is encouraged but not required.  There are no dues other than dues to join an affiliate society and/or costs associated with each individual mid states conference.  The boundaries of the states involved in holding a mid states conference at this time are listed above — by affiliate societies in the states —  the next conference place selected at the current conference.  However, people from all over the world are encouraged to attend a mid states conference.)

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1986         1^st  MID-STATES (Mid-West) CACTUS and SUCCULENT PLANT PICNIC and MINI-CONFERENCE (Cactus People Stick Together):  June 20–22 — sponsored by Omaha C&SS (now known as ‘River City C&SS’) — various motels in the area, $25 to $60 single/day — welcome at Skip & Retha Adkins home June 20 — potluck picnic at a park June 21 — lectures & slide presentations (2 each day-evening) held at Family Practice Office of Dave Weeks — registration fee $7.50/person ($20 max/family) for picnic — mini plant judged show by conference members — 60 attendees — from 12 states.

                    Speakers: Seymour Linden (California & CSSA President), Lloyd Brinson (California & Past CSSA Pres), Peg Spaete (Oregon), Frank Bowman (Wisconsin) & Malcom Burleigh (St. Paul, Minnesota).

                    Also attending from CSSA:  Show Chairperson Fred Hutflesz and directors Bill Woodard & Mary Jo Gussett.

                    Vendors: None.  Plant  swap.  Visits to greenhouses of:  Skip & Retha Adkins, Sue & Bart Steward, Dave Weeks, Delores Kirk and Rick Malone’s commercial greenhouse.

1988         2^nd MID-AMERICA REGIONAL CACTUS and SUCCULENT PLANT CONFERENCE: June 17–19 — sponsored by Mid-Iowa C&SS — held at Airport Inn, Des Moines, Iowa, $34 single/day or $36 double/day + $4 per extra person in room — registration fee $30/person, included picnic type lunch — home or botanical center tour — rare plant auction — 75 attendees — 13 states + England represented.

                    Speakers: John Donald (England), Frank Bowman (Wisconsin), Seymour Linden (California & CSSA President), Woody Minnich (California), Bill Nixon (Massachusetts), Neal Bohlman (St. Louis, Missouri).

                    Vendors: Lynn & LoWilla Wilson (Oklahoma), Mike Crump (Crump Greenhouse, Colorado), Ron Studier (Texas).

1990         3^rd MID-AMERICA CACTUS and SUCCULENT PLANT CONFERENCE: May 25–27 — sponsored by Henry Shaw Cactus Society — held at  Forest Park Hotel, St. Louis, Missouri, 2 people $45/day, 3 $50, 4 $55 — registration fee $35/person, included lunch on Saturday — rare plant auction.

                    Speakers: Jerry Barad (New Jersey & CSSA President), Larry Mitich (California & CSSA Board Member), Anita Holst (St. Louis), Joseph Moreno (St. Louis), Pat Fusaro (Des Moines), Chuck Hanson (Arizona).

                    Vendors: Crump Greenhouse (Mike Crump & Rita Auer, Colorado), Ron Studier (Texas), Drummonds (Missouri), Bart Steward (Omaha, Nebraska) with cactus jewelry made by him.

1992         4^th MID-STATES STICK-TOGETHER CACTUS and SUCCULENT PLANT CONFERENCE: June 20–21 — sponsored by C&SS of Tulsa — held at Sheraton Inn-Tulsa Airport, Tulsa, Oklahoma, $45/day — registration fee $35/person, included lunch & dinner Saturday — judged show for all attendees — rare plant auction.

                    Speakers: H.V. & Kay Rodman (Denver), David Eppele (Arizona), Roger Brown (Omaha), Mary Jo Gusset (Texas & CSSA VP), Stan Peterson (Kansas City), Mac Clarke (Tennessee & CSSA Board Member), Bob Barth (Texas), Mike Keeling (Tulsa).

                    Vendors: Not sure who.  ?Chuck Hanson (Arid Lands), Lynn & LoWilla Wilson Succulents?.

1994         5^th MIDWESTERN CACTUS and SUCCULENT PLANT CONFERENCE: June 16–19 — sponsored by Kansas City C&SS — held at Holiday Inn Mission-Overland Park Holidome, Mission, Kansas, $64/day main bldg or $59 outlying bldg with complimentary breakfast — registration fee $45/person, included dinner Saturday & noon barbecue Sunday at Stan Peterson’s — mini-show for all attendees — rare plant auction.

                    Speakers: Woody Minnich (Calif), Mike Massara (Ohio), David von Goss (Kansas City), Mary Jo Gusset (Texas & CSSA President), Rick Malone (Nebraska), Mike Hisey (Kansas City), Stan Peterson (Kansas City).

                    Vendors: Cactus Data Plants (Woody Minnich, California), Highland Succulents (Ohio), Arid Lands (Chuck Hanson, Arizona), Living Stone Nursery (Arizona), show pots from California, jewelry & tee shirts.

1996         6^th MID-AMERICA REGIONAL CACTUS and SUCCULENT PLANT CONFERENCE: – June 21–22 — sponsored by Colorado C&SS — held at Executive Tower Inn, downtown Denver, Colorado, $65 single/day, $70 double — registration fee $50/person + $30/person banquet fee — mini-show for all attendees — rare plant auction — field trip.

                    Speakers: Panayoti Kelaidis (Denver Botanic Gardens), Alfred Lau (Mexico), Don Campbell (Grand Junction, Colorado), John Trager (Huntington Botanic Gardens, California), Jerry Barad (New Jersey).

                    Vendors: Mike Crump & Rita Crump (Crump Greenhouse, Buena Vista, Colorado), Lynn & LoWilla Wilson (Broken Arrow, Oklahoma).

1998         7^th MIDWEST CACTUS and SUCCULENT PLANT CONFERENCE: June 12–14 — sponsored by Omaha C&SS — held at Ramada Inn, Council Bluffs, Iowa, $48/day — registration fee $45/person + $15/person banquet fee — judged show for all attendees — rare plant auction.

                    Speakers: Bruce Bayer (South Africa), Fred Katterman (New Jersey), Steve Hammer (California), Rob Wallace (Iowa State University), Miles Anderson (Arizona) , Jerry Barad (New Jersey & CSSA Board Member), Chuck Hanson (Iowa & CSSA Board Member).

                    Vendors: Arid Lands (Chuck Hanson), Burk’s Nursery, Cactus Data Plants, Crumpis Cactus Greenhouse (Mike Crump & Rita Auer), Lynn & LoWilla Wilson’s Succulents, Miles to Go, Pottery by Joe Wujcik, Mary Odette Books.

2000         8^th MID-AMERICA CACTUS and SUCCULENT PLANT CONFERENCE: June 9–11 — sponsored by Henry Shaw Cactus Society — held at Viking Conference Center, $83/day — registration fee $75/person, included banquet — rare plant auction — Missouri Botanical Garden tours of cactus & succulent collection, Library (including rare books), Herbarium & Research Facility.

                    Speakers: Jerry Barad (Ney Jersey & CSSA Board Member), Dan Mahr (Wisconsin & CSSA Board Member), Chuck Hanson (Iowa), Mike Massara (Ohio), Mark Olsen (Missouri Botanical Gardens, St Louis), Bob Smoley (Florida), Rob Wallace (Iowa State University).

                    Vendors: Arid Lands (Chuck Hanson, Iowa), Burks’ Nursery (Arkansas), Crump’s Nursery (Mike Crump & Rita Auer, Colorado), Drummond’s Nursery (Missouri), Lynn & LoWilla Wilson (Oklahoma), Bob Smoley’s Gardenworld (Florida), Joe Wujcik pots (California).

2002         9^th MID-AMERICA REGIONAL CACTUS and SUCCULENT PLANT CONFERENCE: Jun 7–9 — sponsored by Kansas City C&SS — held at Holiday Inn Mission/Overland Park, Mission, Kansas, $74/day — registration fee $75/person, included banquet — judged show for attendees — rare plant auction.

                    Speakers: John Spain (Connecticut), Rob Wallace (Iowa State University), Chuck Hanson (Arid Lands Iowa), Bob Smoley (Florida), Bob Harris (Missouri), David Bird (Missouri), Kathy Malon spoon garden workshop (Missouri).

                    Vendors: Chuck Hanson (Iowa), Bob Smoley (Florida), Lynn& LoWilla Wilson (Oklahoma), Carol Wichern pots (Colorado), Joyce Batemann-Hochtritt (Oklahoma).

2004         10^th MIDWEST CACTUS and SUCCULENT PLANT CONFERENCE: June 11–13 — sponsored by River City C&SS and Mid-Iowa C&SS — held at Ramada LTD Convention Center, Council Bluffs, Iowa, $49.95/day — registration fee $75/person, included evening buffet + optional Saturday noon deli buffet including banquet $10 — judged show for attendees — rare plant auction.

                    Speakers: Mark Dimmitt (Arizona-Sonora Desert Museum), Mike Massara (Out of Africa, Ohio), Dylan Hannon (Huntington Botanic Garden), Dennis Cathcart (Florida), Mark Sitter (Arizona-Sonora Desert Museum), Chuck Hanson (Arid Lands Iowa), Tom Knapik (California).

                    Vendors: Arid Lands Iowa (Chuck Hanson), Cactus Patch (Wolfgang Werk, Wisconsin), BJ Pottery (B.J. Whitmore, Florida), Out of Africa (Mike & Maureen Massara, Ohio), Wilson’s (Lynn & LoWilla Wilson, Oklahoma), Earth Shanti (Mark Schiller, Ohio) and Tropiflora (Dennis Cathcart, Florida).

2006         11^th BIENNIAL MID-STATES STICK-TOGETHER CACTUS and SUCCULENT PLANT CONFERENCE: Jun 15–18 — sponsored by Central Oklahoma C&SS and C&SS of Tulsa — held at Clarion Meridian Hotel & Convention Center, Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, $69/day or $79 mini suites — registration fee $85/person, included banquet — 5 educational displays judged by attendees — rare plant auction — 63 attendees — 14 states + England & Yugoslavia represented — 16 c&s societies represented.

                    Speakers: Bob Smoley (Florida), Mike Keeling (Oklahoma), Woody Minnich (California), Michael Douglas (Oklahoma), Dan Mahr (Wisconsin & CSSA President), Bob Barth (Texas & CSSA Board Member), Wade Roitsch (Texas) + judges meeting monitored by Chuck & Connie Staples (Iowa).

                    Vendors: Bob Smoley’s Gardenworld (Florida), LoWilla Wilson Succulents (Oklahoma), Snake Farm Cactus (Mike & LaWanda Keeling, Oklahoma), J & J Cactus & Succulents (Joyce Hochtritt, Oklahoma), Rio Grande Cacti (Socorro Gonzalez, New Mexico), Cactus Data Plants (Woody & Kathy Minnich, California), Yuccado Nursery (Wade Roitsch, Texas).

2008         12^th BIENNIAL MID-STATES CACTUS and SUCCULENT PLANT CONFERENCE: Jun 12–15 — sponsored by Chinle Chapter of the Colorado C&SS — held at Double Tree Hotel, Grand Junction, Colorado, $99/day — registration fee $85/person, included Saturday evening banquet — rare plant auction — 103 attendees — 15 states + England represented — MO (4), CO (58), TX (5), CA (1), OK (4), AZ (1), NM (12), NE (1), NV (3), IL (1), NJ (2), AR (2), IA (6), KS (1), PA (1), UK (1).

                    Speakers: Don Campbell (Colorado), Rob Wallace (Iowa State University), Jan Emming (Arizona), Panayoti Kelaidis (Denver Botanic Gardens, Colorado), Woody Minnich (Cactus Data Plants, New Mexico), Jim Weedin (Community College of Aurora, Colorado)+ judging seminar with Don Campbell, Woody Minnich, Bob Barth, Joyce Hochtritt, Connie Staples and Chuck Staples serving as judges of various c&s plants with audience participation. Speaker introductions by David Spenny (from new Walking Stick Chapter of Colorado C&SS in Pueblo, Colorado).

                    Field Trips on Sunday: (Choice of one, including lunch.)

Field Trip #1: Native Cacti in Habitat —  cost $30.

Field Trip #2: Two Area Public Gardens in Grand Junction maintained by the Chinle Chapter of Colorado C&SS — cost $20.

 Vendors: J & J Cactus & Succulents (Joyce Hochtritt, Oklahoma), Cactus Data Plan (Woody Minnich, New Mexico), Crump Greenhouse (Mike Crump and Rita Auer, Colorado), Stone Path Gardens (Leo Chance, Colorado Springs), Rio Grande Cacti (Socorro Gonzalez & Daniel Perry, Socorro, New Mexico) + cactus prints by Sandy King (Grand Junction), t-shirts, blown glass pots by Peter Newbury (Grand Junction), and books.